Having successfully convinced women of the filthiness (and, by extension, irrelevance) of their natural odors, curves, and body hair, it's not surprising that the patriarchy is going onward (and upward) with its assault on the female body. In the sights (and freshly arrived in our RSS feed): Women who menstruate! (What's next? Women who don't shit? -Ed.) Today brings news that the FDA is about to approve Lybrel — "a name meant to evoke 'liberty'"! — a birth control pill that stops menstruation completely.

Gynecologists say they've been seeing a slow but steady increase in women asking how to limit and even stop monthly bleeding. Surveys have found up to half of women would prefer not to have any periods, most would prefer them less often and a majority of doctors have prescribed contraception to prevent periods.

"I think it's the beginning of it being very common," said Dr. Leslie Miller, a University of Washington-Seattle obstetrician-gynecologist who runs a Web site focused on suppressing periods. "Lybrel says, 'You don't need a period."'

Well then! Looks like the feminine-hygiene industry doesn't need a lobbyist in Washington either!